Improvement in curtain-cord retainers



H. HOLCROFT.

CURTAIN CORD-RETAINER. No.185,177. vPatenned De`c.12, 1876.

THE GRAPHIC Dil-NBL UNITE 'rlrrns PATENT @Frio HENRY HOLCROFT, OF MEDIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO CANBY S. SMITH, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURTAIN-CORD RETAINERS.

Specificationformng part of Letters Patent No. 185,177, dated December 12, 1876; application filed March 1, 1876.

To all whom lit may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY HoLCRoFT, of Media, Delaware county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Curtain-Cord Retainers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following` specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a simpleand cheap cord-retainer for holding window-curtains, that are wound on a roller, in a fixed position, with a uniform tension on the cord when exposed to a changing atmosphere.

The invention consists in the combination of a cord-holder having a slot, a coiled spring formed with two curved arms, and a screw with a hat shoulder under the head for the cord-holder to slide on, as will be hereafter described.

Figure'l represents a front view of the cordretainer, cord, and section of a curtain-roller.

Fig. 2 represents an edge view of the same. Part is shown in section. Fig. 3 is a view of the spring and screw. Fig. 4 is a view of the sliding plate or cord-holder.

Similar letters in the drawings refer to like parts.

A is the curtain-roller; B, the cord-pulley; C, the cord; D,the cord-holder; G, the spring; S, the screw. The cord-holderl) can be made of brass or iron. It may be lacquered or nickelplated. This holderD is made with a slot, b, anda small stud-pin, d. The spring G is formed ot' two or more coils of spring-wire, and the ends are curved to cross each other, as shown in the drawings. S is an oval wood-screw,

having a shoulder, p.

The operation of my cord-retainer is as follows: The spring Gr is put in the holder D, the stud-pin d passing through the eye of the spring, which holds it in position. The screw S is then put through the slot b, and between the arms of the spring at that part marked e. It is then screwed into thejamb-casiiig of the window-frame, with the eye of thc^spring up, as is shown in the drawings. The cord is then put on the holder D and pulley B, and when the cord absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and shortens the cord, the spring G will let the holder D rise, it sliding on the flat shoulderp ot' the screw S in the slot b. When the cord discharges the moisture the slack of the cord will be taken up by the spring Gr acting against the screw S, which will force the holder D down. This action of the spring against the screw will keep the cord of one uniform tension through various' changes of the atmosphere.

The holder D is shown in the drawings of a circular form; but they may be made in many diii'erent forms.

I am aware that it is not new to use a coiled spring having one or two arms that act against a stud-pin in a moving cord-holder. This l do not claim; and that my invention may be dis-4 tinguished from the above, I would state that it will be seen that my spring acts against the screw S, which is fixed, and the only iixed piece or part belonging to my cord-holder, and it will be seen that my spring acts on or against the screw S in a peculiar manner, and distinguishes it from what has been done before.

I claim- A curtain-cord retainer provided with a slot, b, and screw S, in combination with a coiled spring, G, provided with two arms, a a', as shown and described.

H. HOLCROFT. [L s.] Witnesses:

JOHN SHINN, L. M. BOND, Jr 

